Visiting Russian delegates were overwhelmed by the hospitality, information, and beauty of the area during the week they have been visiting learning about the social programs for people with disabilities here in Utah.

The Open World Leadership Program sponsored 10 delegates from West Jordan's (Votkinsk) and Salt Lake City's (Izhevsk ) sister cities to come to the United States with the goal of focusing on social services and disability issues. The delegates are members of Udmurt Republic's disability movement, athletes or government officers serving people with disabilities

"It's so amazing to have this group here," said Sandy Newton, wife of West Jordan's mayor, David Newton, and host to two delegates." These are people we have met and known. It's not just a visit to the United States, there's sustainability. We'll be working with these people in the future."

"It has been wonderful," said Newton, "to be able to learn about their culture and share our homes with somebody. We visited there last year and stayed with a host family over there, so now we've been on both sides."

The delegates' schedule has been packed with trips and tours showcasing many of the region's premiere agencies and programs assisting disabled individuals. Some of the places included on the tour were the National Ability Center, Computer Center for People with Disabilities, Utah State Office of Rehabilitation, Disability Law Center and the University of Utah Rehabilitation Center.

The visit included time to experience the local culture with side trips to Liberty Park, Temple Square, Cathedral of the Madeleine, Park City, Olympic Parks and the Kennecott Copper Mine.

Thursday night, cooling clouds rolled in above Liberty Park, creating perfect conditions for the delegates to try out the handcycles, specially designed bikes powered by hand pedals, at Liberty Park.

Oleg Vyshensky, sportsman and member of the Disabled Society of the Udmart Republic was one of the first to try out the handcycles and one of the last to get off. While others took turns on the bikes, Vyshensky was getting a workout doing laps around the park.

"Wow!" needed no translation when Vyshensky paused momentarily.

Delegates said they were so busy absorbing everything they wouldn't be able to process all of it until later when they return home.

"Basically, we wanted to see how disabled people live back here in the United States," said Alevtina Redozubova, a specialist for the Department for Disabled for Votkinsk, through an interpreter. " We wanted to see how they work and live in the society."

The delegates have been impressed by all the programs for the disabled and how each person is treated individually according to his or her needs. They have also been impressed with the people of Utah.

"What really impressed us is all the voluntarism and charity work," said Sergei Kondrutski, an Open World facilitator. "You just don't see that at home."

The whole experience was described by a delegate as like being in a fairy tale.

"The people are so nice and smiling all the time," said Marina Bystrova through the interpreter. "And they keep feeding us."

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